IIT Kanpur students protest against washermen eviction

Students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur protested on Wednesday, supporting local dhobis, or washermen, after the demolition of their living quarters. The protest came months after these families received eviction notices. Students fear the institute's plan to shift to a mechanized laundromat will eliminate the washermen's jobs. About 50 students gathered at the demolition site. They criticized the institute's actions, stating it violated IIT's humanitarian values. In a statement, the Council of Students for Hostel Affairs expressed that the students were not consulted and that communication regarding the demolition was misleading. IIT Kanpur explained that the buildings were old and deemed unsafe by experts. They have offered alternative housing outside the campus for the washermen's families and plan to create a modern laundromat for the campus. The institute claims this will not harm the washermen’s livelihoods and will save water. The dhobis have been providing laundry services for over 60 years. The push to evict them began in 2010, but it was repeatedly stalled due to pushback from the families. Recently, when the administration determined the washermen to be “illegal” occupants, complications arose concerning the documentation they presented. Despite the IIT's stance on safety, students have raised questions about the legitimacy of the structural surveys conducted. Many professors claimed they did not conduct surveys, raising concerns about the institute's claims. Alumni have joined the students, urging the administration to resolve the matter fairly. The students assert that any displacement requires a solid alternative and demand transparency concerning the survey reports. IIT Kanpur maintains that the eviction was done legally and with police assistance to minimize disruption.